The graduation part II: Graduate program graduation rates

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Denning, Jeffrey T.; Turner, Lesley J.
• 署名单位: University of Notre Dame; National Bureau of Economic Research; IZA Institute Labor Economics; Leibniz Association; Ifo Institut; University of Chicago
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2025.105422
• 发表日期: 2025
• 关键词: Graduate school; Graduation rates

摘要

This paper documents several facts about graduate program graduation rates using administrative data covering public and nonprofit graduate students in Texas. Only 58 % of students entering a graduate program in 2004 graduated within 6 years. Between the 2004 and 2013 entering cohorts, graduate student completion rates grew by 10 percentage points. Graduation rates vary widely by field of study, ranging from an average of 81 % for law programs to 53 % for education programs. We also find large differences in graduation rates between institutions. On average, 72 % of students who entered programs in flagship public universities graduated in 6 years compared to only 57 % of those who entered programs in non-research intensive (non-R1) institutions. Graduate students who do not complete may face negative consequences due to lower average earnings and substantial levels of student debt.